Duck Dynasty's Robertson family has released a statement saying that they cannot do the show without exiled cast member Phil Robertson, and revealing that they are currently negotiating with A&E about the future of the show. Here's the full statement:

We want to thank all of you for your prayers and support. The family has spent much time in prayer since learning of A&E’s decision.

We want you to know that first and foremost we are a family rooted in our faith in God and our belief that the Bible is His word. While some of Phil’s unfiltered comments to the reporter were coarse, his beliefs are grounded in the teachings of the Bible. Phil is a Godly man who follows what the Bible says are the greatest commandments: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart” and “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Phil would never incite or encourage hate.

We are disappointed that Phil has been placed on hiatus for expressing his faith, which is his constitutionally protected right.We have had a successful working relationship with A&E but, as a family, we cannot imagine the show going forward without our patriarch at the helm. We are in discussions with A&E to see what that means for the future of Duck Dynasty.

@Joseph, again I don’t know about the steep decline in viewer or profits. There are whole industries that crunch these numbers for a living, I’m sure AE has checked them and has made their moves accordingly. Remember the FoodNetwork was gonna ‘fall’ too after the Paula Dean affair but it’s still standing and not even a blip that I’ve heard about.

One last thing; people are saying well AE knew what they were getting why are they surprised? Well DD ‘knew’ what they were getting when they got into bed with AE too. This isn’t a bunch of poor old country boys no matter how they want to portray themselves. No one should be surprised and frankly if I found out this was all some sort stunt with hidden agendas involved I wouldn’t be a bit surprised.

Paul

Don’t kowtow to these inbred loons, A&E. Just say good riddance to ignorant, hypocritical redneck trash and be done with it. As for the show’s moronic fan base, they’ll still have the Faux News Channel to drool over.

dantes momma

If I were them I would have each cast member release a public statement stating exactly what Phil did in the magazine. This way the ball is strictly in A&E’s court. Suspend them all and effectively the show, or don’t. If they are in contract they not be able to just decide not to do it.

thatguy

Nobody likes rednecks other than rednecks themselves. We laugh at you all. The scum of the U.S. Rednecks are to the U.S. what terrorists are to the middleeast.

So why are we surprised that a show (Duck Dynasty) that combined both of these (rich hillbillies) would be the biggest of them all?
Pure Genius. PT Barnum would be so proud.

Bored Now

Ultimately, whoever happens to be right or wrong in all of this, if it results in one less reality show on the air, I consider it a win.

Paul 80

Clearly a case of Affluenceza. That old boy does not know the differences between right or wrong. He is forgiven

TVDude

A&E was trying to make a point and failed at it. They alienated one crowd of people while gaining support from another. The only issue is that the crowd they are gaining support from probably doesn’t watch this show anyway.

I think they’ll be OK either way, but they did it to themselves. This issue could have been kept rather quiet and they were the ones who made it as public as it is right now.

Although I think they’ll give in and keep the show (greed seems to always win), they should just ditch it an make everyone involved happy. Even if they keep it, it won’t be the same. They will probably lose viewers from the show just because of the comments made. It’s not worth keeping around, in my opinion.

fozzibeardumplin

The ongoing persecution of homosexuals by Muslims around the world, rarely makes the mainstream news. The fear of offending Islamic sensibilities and enraging the Muslim population has effectively silenced the free world. In other words it is politically expedient to ignore their attitude or the actual passages from the Quran on homosexuality for the purpose of political correctness. That is something very ugly which seems to take precedence lately over the real agenda of actual human rights.

Equal is equal no matter, if not your being politically correct that is. Speaking of equal…the pick and choose of what is an offense against a woman is also sadly subject to politics as well, the NOW nags will rally the troops if Hillary Clinton is demeaned but remain strangely silent as a bunch of rat’s peeing on cotton bales in the dark belly of a slave trading ship when the same type of thing, or worse happens to Sarah Palin. Is that what they really and truly call Sisterhood? Last time I looked they were both women and supposedly that is the whole reason the National Organization of Women exists..for all women and not to pick and choose. If it’s not to protect all women as they state, but actually pick and choose politically as the purpose..give up the tax exempt status and refile for one with the actual purpose.

Even the NAACP has a blind spot when it comes to seeing some African Americans as worthy or deserving of their defense and protection from the exact same types of media abuse as others that they choose to not rally the troops for are subjected to. Again that is not their actual stated and chartered purpose, but due to their political beliefs it seems to be the norm. That ceases to be equality and becomes politics. Give up the current exempt status, and state the real actual purpose on a new application.

I’m sure in the spirit of true fairness and righteous indignation of a legitimate human rights issue those now hating on Phil Robertson are shortly going to be putting out a litany of heartfelt articles and posts full of examples about Gay rights abuses happening among all the other religions of the world and from all the other public figures that will soon literally flood the internet with hope and love for the LBGT community. A flood of hope and caring for their sake alone, and on that same principle of equality alone. If not, what they are doing to Mr. Robertson just serves some political or personal purpose that bashes one individual’s religious and personal beliefs while conveniently leaving those of others with similar ones to remain unscathed for some rather dark personal or political reasons.

I really hope not,it seems a whole lot of catching up to do, but I’m sure they are dedicated to making things fair. I mean after all, the Progressives, Liberals, Agnostics and Atheists really do care about the LGBT issue as a whole right? I mean they rushed to help the Log Cabin Republicans finance the Supreme Court appeal that overturned Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell right? Sadly even though they were invited and welcomed to help in that Court challenge they didn’t even pay it lip service,but why? It didn’t fit into their political agenda and thus the crock of crap about really caring down deep about the issue is exposed for any who care enough to actually look!

Perhaps they have just happened by some accident to be silent on all the other statements and real abuses from here at home and every other corner of the world until now. Silent on the the executions, beatings, imprisonments by the same happy accident for all this time? Hell in the new spirit of fairness we may even see some of the NOW nags finally admit what Ted Kennedy let happen to Mary Jo Kopechne in Chappaquiddick was actually a bit sexist, career serving and not a very nice thing to let happen to a woman. Let’s all hope they decide that finally after all these years it merits at least some minor public acknowledgment of indignation from them. If not..how serious can people like that on the left really be taken on any issue?

Sam

Since it’s a pretty popular show, A&E probably doesn’t want to loose it. I’m guessing it’s either the axe or bringing back a family member. I agree, freedom of speech is one of our basic right. Being kicked off the show for it is stupid. Whether I agree with what he say or not doesn’t matter.

Owen

Who cares what Phil Robertson personally believes. It’s just about as important as whatever Miley Cyrus says and does or the Amanda Bynes.

We should be more worried about what’s happening in Syria and we should be more worried about putting a ban on automatics assault rifles and focusing on recovering the economy. Basically the things that actually affect us on a daily basis.

Derek

Ironic, the only people who watch the show anyway are homophobic white trash. Who cares if they lose their show?

Mike

Sam, There are a lot of people I don’t like what they say, but as the old quote goes, I will defend to my death their right to say it.

*******

As to the Muslim thing above, that is one thing I have never fully understood. I see many gays come out and defend Muslims and the Islamic faith in one breath and then defame the Christian faith from the other.

Both religions think that homosexuality is wrong. But in most Muslim countries that I know of homosexuals are regularly put to death. Being gay is a death penalty under their law.

There are those rare Christians just the like the rare human being who will gay bash and kill gays, but I don’t know of any Christian religion that holds that just because a person is gay they should be put to death — just that it is wrong.

Why is one embraced and the other not? My guess is that one is more politically correct in our climate to do so and the other is not.

Jagger Dagger

@fozzibeardumplin,
I’m also guessing that the TEA Party nags will rally the troops if Sarah Palin is demeaned but remain strangely silent as a bunch of rat’s peeing on cotton bales in the dark belly of a slave trading ship when the same type of thing, or worse happens to Hillary Clinton.

See, it works both ways. Thanks for playing.

Cimmer

@Derek what’s really ironic is that a bunch of us are getting drawn into what amounts to a fight between to rich corporations. Free speech my aunt petunia, Phil obviously broke a clause in a contract hence the suspension and now everyone is maneuvering for the legal battle and the cash. Did anyone do any research? I did a quick google search and Phil has apparently wanted to leave and made noises about it before, now he gets to take a break, the show gets a bunch if free publicity and the family gets to maneuver for more cash and meanwhile, we the public, both sides, are being played like well tuned fiddles. When will we learn but hey, it’s something to do.

Mike

Derek,

You just gave credence to every bit of censorship that groups who have been trying to censor television for years.

I guess you are one of those who believes censorship is only wrong when it is against something you don’t like.

If it is okay to censor one part of things then lets just open the flood gates and censor every thing that every little group in the country has a problem with.

Funny that when it is someone trying to censor something someone likes they yell if you don’t like it turn the channel.

With all the channels and choices we have grown people still don’t know how to turn the channel. And it is even easier now…you don’t even have to get up off your butt to do so.

Cimmer

‘Two’ I do know how to spell- sometimes.

HeadlessHorseman

All A&E had to do was put out a press release that stated.

“Phil’s comments do not reflect our opinions as a whole here at A&E.”

While his opinions would definitely offend a lot of people, they are his opinions and he has a right to them. If A&E is really willing to let this cash cow walk away from the table, then somebody will pick it up.

Ike

I would not define a disagreement between Robertson and A&E as “censorship.” A&E is not a government agency and does not make laws. It is free to suspend or fire Robertson if it feels his public statements imperil profits or damage the credibility of the show or the channel. Likewise, Robertson is free to sue them or quit or whatever. It all looks like the oh-so-coveted free market at work to me.

The term “censorship” is more commonly applied to governmental or official actions.